Improvement in corsets



L. L. CHAPMAN, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,907, dated December15, 1863.`

dotted lines t a. The puffs B B are eXtensions of the fabric of the bodyA, and are formed so as to project outward by means of the intermediatepieces, b b, and whalebone stay-pieces or stretchers, as seen in Fig. l.lhe back edge of each half of the corset is provided witha series ofeyelet-holes, arranged in the relation to each other seen in Fig. 2. Thetwo ends of the lacing-cord D D are introduced at the top holes andcross-laced twothirds or three-fourths of the way down, where sufficientportions to pass round and tie together in front are left loose, andthen the ends of the cord cross-laced onward to the bottom holes, wherethey are tied permanently together. The' loose portions, therefore, whenpassed round and drawn in front, produce an effective shoulder-bracecorsetdraw 7 of the most simple kind. The front steel springs extendupward, respectively, from the bottom edges of the corset only to theLinder edges of the puHs B B, as seen in Fig. l.

The clasps consist each of a iiat piece of sheet metal having a slottedknob-hole and riveted to one of the said springs, so as to projectlaterally from its outer edge, and of a knob projecting perpendicularlyfrom the other spring, so as to be directly opposite to the slot in theclasp of the rst spring, and be capable of being readily connected anddisconnected therewith, (as occasion may require in putting on and taking off the corset,) as represented in Fig. 1.

I am aware that long curved steel springs have been used for the purposeof closing and unclosing the fronts of some other corsets of an entirelydifferent construction, but such springs have always been made to extendupward from the bottom to the top of the corset, and to have curves attheir lower ends which, extending over the abdomen, cause disagree- Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. L. CHAPMAN, of Camlen,.in the county of Camdenand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement inLadies Corsets; and I do hereby declare that the' following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a View of the front, and Fig.2, a view of the back, of one of the said corsets as the same appearswhen lying upon a iiat surface, like letters indicating the same partswhen in both figures.

'Ihe nature of my invention consists in the employment, in a ladyscorset having breastpuffs, elastic shoulder-brace straps, andstaypieces, of two short straight iiat steel claspin gsprings placed infront, so as to be entirely below the puffs and above the abdomen whenworn, as hereinafter described and set forth, for the purpose ofavoiding the injuries to the breasts and abdomen which arise from longsprings, as well as to aiford instant facility in opening and closingthe corset in putting it on or taking it oft the person, in combinationwith a lacing-cord arranged through eyeletholes in the back edges o fthe corset, and adjustable in front, as hereinafter described and setforth, for the purpose of affording a more simple, and, therefore,better and more easily repairable means of tightening and loosening thesaid shoulder-brace corset as occasion may require after the said shortstraight front springs have -been clasped together on the person.

In the drawings, A is the body of the corset, B B, the puffs; D D, thesingle lacingcord, and E E, buttons for supporting the usual underski-rtof the ladys dress by the corset. l

The body A of the corset is made in two separate or right and leftparts, connected together at their back edges by means of thelacing-cord D D, as seen in Fig. 2, and so as to be adjustable togetherin front by means of the short straight clasping-springs seen in thevertical front edges of the corset in Fig. 1. Each half is provided withan elastic shoulder-brace strap, C, connecting the back part to the puffB, and with the usual elastic staypieces in front and rear, as indicatedby' the cramping result in most cases, which renders their disusenecessary. Besides, their upper ends extending to the top of the breastscause serious lateral friction against these organs, and consequentlyare injurious. Vhereas, by constructing and applying short straightsprings, as represented in Fig. 1, the puffs D D are left free andindependent, so that in respiration and all other motions of thechestthe said springs cannot produce either injury or inconvenience, and, noteXtending downable and injurious pressure, and a consequent der it verydifficult to repair, except by the as described and set forth herein, isof the most tuted at any time by any one with the greatj gard to thetightness or looseness of the corv ward over the abdomen, the corsetscan bey worn by all females at all times without either inconvenience orinjury.

I am also aware that the backs of corsets have been laced and adjustedtogether by means of a series of short cords of different lengthspassing through eyelet-holes and unittogether at their respective endsby means of two broad flexible bands, which are adapted to pass aroundthe corset and tie in front, as seen in Mrs. O. P. Youngs corset,rejected set around the body can be effected by the sai single-cordlacing with equal facility and e: actness.

Having thus fully described my improv( .ment in corsets and pointed outits utility what I claim as new therein, of my invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In ladies corsets constructed to have th breast-puits, elasticshoulder-brace straps and stay-pieces as described and set forth, theemployment ofthe short straight clasping steel springs arranged in frontso as to be entirely below and free from the puffs B B as hereindescribed and set forth, in combina tion with the single-cord lacing D Din the back ofthe corset and adjustable in front, as described, the saidsprings and lacing operating together in the said shoulder-brace corsetcombination substantially in the manner described, for the purposesspecified.

L. L. CHAPMAN.

manufacturer, and exceedingly liable to wear out or become broken.Whereas, the use ot' the long single cord D D, arranged and laced simplecharacter, and, consequently, the lacing can be easily repaired or a newcord substi- Witnesses:

BENJ. MonrsoN, HOWARD KIRK.

est facility, and the requisite variations in re-

